Summary The classical methods for estimating the volume of human body compartments in vivo (e.g. skin‐fold thickness for fat, radioisotope counting for different compartments, etc.) are generally indirect and rely on essentially empirical relationships — hence they are biased to unknown degrees. The advent of modern non‐invasive scanning techniques, such as X‐ray computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now widening the scope of volume quantification, especially in combination with stereological methods. Apart from its superior soft tissue contrast, MRI enjoys the distinct advantage of not using ionizing radiations. By a proper landmarking and control of the scanner couch, an adult male volunteer was scanned exhaustively into parallel systematic MR ‘sections’. Four compartments were defined, namely bone, muscle, organs and fat (which included the skin), and their corresponding volumes were easily and efficiently estimated by the Cavalieri method: the total section area of a compartment times the section interval estimates the volume of the compartment without bias. Formulae and nomograms are given to predict the errors and to optimize the design. To estimate an individual's muscle volume with a 5% coefficient of error, 10 sections and less than 10min point counting (to estimate the relevant section areas) are required. Bone and fat require about twice as much work. To estimate the mean muscle volume of a population with the same error contribution, from a random sample of six subjects, the workload per subject can be divided by √6, namely 4 min per subject. For a given number of sections planimetry would be as accurate but far more time consuming than point counting.

From these data, it is now evident that ED may precede a cardiovascular event by as much as 5 years. In almost half of the men with ED, there were missed opportunities to undertake a CVD risk assessment and provide an intervention, because the men did not acknowledge the problem. Men with ED should be specifically targeted for CVD preventative strategies in terms of lifestyle changes, and appropriate pharmacological treatments.

It has been shown for the first time that the HeartMate II LVAD can confer both resting and peak cardiac functional benefits to patients with end-stage heart failure, thus improving exercise capacity.

Arm (A), leg (L) and combined arm and leg (A + L) ergometry modes were compared at power outputs of 49, 73.5 and 98 W. Selected cardiorespiratory variables and a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured for 19 males of mean age 25.7 (± 5.5) years. Oxygen uptake (JO2), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were all higher (p < 0.01) in A compared with L and A + L. Gross mechanical efficiency was significantly lower in A (p < 0.01) than in L or A + L. No differences were observed in any measurements between L and A + L. the correlations between RPE and cardiorespiratory variables were higher for A (RPE:VO2, r = 0.87, p < 0.01; RPE:HR, r = 0.78 p < 0.01) than for L and A + L.

Eighteen preadolescent males (mean age 11.4 +/- 0.59 years) performed 15 knee flexion-extension repetitions on both legs. Peak torque (T peak) and torque acceleration energy (TAE) were measured using the Cybex II Isokinetic system, which permitted a study of the effect of limb velocity on T peak, TAE, and reciprocal muscle group ratios. The effect of limb dominance was also assessed. The results indicated (Student's t test) that an increase in limb velocity from 1.05 rad/s to 4.2 rad/s produced a significant decrease in the T peak generated (P less than 0.001). A similar increase in limb velocity resulted in a significant increase in the TAE recorded (P less than 0.001). The limb velocity was also shown to influence the T peak and TAE ratios in reciprocal muscle groups. At a limb velocity 1.05 rad/s mean T peak ratios of 0.64 and 0.66 were recorded for the dominant and nondominant limbs, respectively. At 4.2 rad/s, ratios recorded for dominant and non-dominant limbs were 0.79 and 0.80, respectively. The limb velocity of 1.05 rad/s produced TAE ratios of 0.21 (dominant) and 0.14 (nondominant), and at 4.2 rad/s, ratios of 0.28 and 0.24 were recorded for dominant and non-dominant limbs, respectively. No significant difference (P less than 0.001) was observed between T peak and TAE values recorded for the dominant and non-dominant limbs under the same conditions. These results indicate that young boys show velocity-related isokinetic strength characteristics similar to adults. Although they have lower absolute levels, the children showed typical adult reciprocal muscle group ratios. Limb dominance at this age is not reflected in strength differences.